Latest news with #Kentuckian
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mitch McConnell Breaks Cover to Trash ‘Rabid' JD Vance
Mitch McConnell has shrunk from the spotlight since relinquishing the GOP leadership last year—but the weekend's bunker-buster strikes on Iran and Donald Trump's subsequent visit to the NATO summit have pulled the Kentuckian out of his semi-retirement rocking chair and into flamethrower mode. And, right in McConnell's firing line, was President Trump's number two, JD Vance, who was spared little sympathy. '[Trump's] got some pretty rabid isolationists over at DoD—you could argue the vice president is in that group,' McConnell said, skewering Vance in the Politico interview. 'None of those people who've read history.' The Daily Beast has approached Vance for comment but has not received a reply at the time of publication. McConnell's feud with Trump dates back to 2016, when 'McConnell-world' went up against 'Trumpland' for the soul of the GOP. The clash intensified when McConnell publicly certified Joe Biden's 2020 victory and blamed Trump for the Jan. 6 riot, widening the party's divide between institutional conservatism and culture-war populism. Trump, as he so often does, resorted to insults, describing McConnell last year as an 'Old Crow'—a nickname which backfired, with the Kentucky senator proudly turning it into a badge of honor. The octogenarian now chairs the Appropriations subcommittee that doles out defense dollars. From that perch he appears to be mounting a public campaign to drag Donald Trump back toward the interventionist creed of peace through strength that defined the party before media commentators and podcasters like Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, and 'America First' hashtags took over. Rather than whisper advice over dinner, McConnell has unleashed floor speeches, committee diatribes, and this 40-minute chat with Politico. The message is constant: replicate the Iran success in Ukraine, out-spend Moscow and Beijing, and don't let Vance or other 'history-light' aides fog up the president's thinking. 'The strongest deterrence is denying an adversary's objectives through military means,' McConnell declared on the Senate floor, adding that preaching at NATO partners means nothing unless Washington fattens its own defense ledger. He praised Trump for goading Europeans into higher budgets but argued that means 'we need to do the same.' 'We need to not just preach to our allies, we need to do the same,' McConnell told Politico, who admitted his view doesn't make him popular in the commander-in-chief's club. 'Most of [Trump's] advisers don't agree with what I'm saying,' McConnell said, conceding he no longer has 'the megaphone' he once did as he enters the final stages of a congressional career that began during Ronald Reagan's second term in January 1985. Instead, he says, he has 'the freedom to do it that I would not have had if I had still been leader.' Health setbacks—flaring childhood polio and hearing loss—may have slowed him physically, but McConnell still rattled off defense-spending as a slice of GDP from Harry Truman to Joe Biden. 'We're now spending less than Jimmy Carter was in his last year,' he said. Would Trump even know that? 'That is why some of us need to argue a different point of view,' McConnell said, noting social media posts are no substitute for hard numbers.
27-06-2025
- Business
Kentucky Senate hopeful Nate Morris pledges his loyalty to President Trump
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Republican businessman Nate Morris entered Kentucky's competitive campaign Thursday to succeed longtime Senate power broker Mitch McConnell, branding himself as a political outsider and loyal supporter of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement. Morris joins U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and ex-state Attorney General Daniel Cameron as GOP heavyweights vying for their party's nomination next spring in the Republican-leaning Bluegrass State. He said his campaign would become a referendum on McConnell's Senate record, and he tried to link his two Republican rivals to the senator, though Morris has his own past ties to McConnell. 'You have two McConnellites who owe everything to Mitch McConnell versus the outside business guy that's running as the MAGA candidate,' Morris said in a campaign release. 'I think that contrast is gonna be very, very striking to Kentuckians all over the state because they've had enough of Mitch.' His announcement came during an appearance on a podcast hosted by Donald Trump Jr., the president's son. Morris joins the Senate race with far less name recognition than his main rivals but has his own advantage — he can tap into personal wealth he accumulated as a tech entrepreneur to unleash an advertising blitz to make himself more of a household name in the coming months. He staked out a hard line on immigration in announcing his candidacy. He said he supports a moratorium on immigration into the United States until every immigrant currently in the country illegally is deported. The GOP contenders are following the same playbook — lavishing praise on Trump in hopes of landing the president's prized endorsement — seen as potentially decisive in determining who wins the primary. Morris hopes to connect with Kentuckians by touting his family's blue-collar roots, plus his staunch support for Trump in a state where Trump dominated the past three presidential elections. Morris — a ninth-generation Kentuckian with family ties to Appalachia — was raised in a union household by a single mother and attended public schools, his campaign bio said. Many of his relatives worked at an auto plant, including his grandfather, who headed the local auto union, it said. 'I have been able to live the American dream because of how great this country is,' Morris said. Morris founded Rubicon, one of the country's largest waste and recycling companies. Starting with a $10,000 line of credit, Morris served as CEO for more than 12 years, growing the company to nearly $700 million in annual revenue while creating hundreds of jobs, the bio said. The company later ran into financial difficulties, which could provide fodder for Morris' rivals. Barr's campaign immediately went on the attack, questioning Morris' authenticity by pointing to a Morris donation linked to Nikki Haley, a Trump campaign rival in 2024. Morris' campaign responded that the 2021 donation was made to a Haley political action committee long before she entered the GOP presidential race against Trump. Barr's team also claimed Morris championed diversity initiatives as a businessman, contrary to Trump's policies. 'Nate Morris is pretending to be MAGA now, but he can't run from all the liberal trash in his past,' Barr's campaign said Thursday in a statement. 'Kentucky conservatives won't fall for this fraud.' The wide-open race was set in motion when McConnell — the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history — announced in February, on his 83rd birthday, that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2026 and will retire when his current term ends. His departure will end an era in Bluegrass State politics. Through the decades, McConnell ensured that his home state received plenty of federal funding. Back home, he was a key architect in his party's rise to power in a state once dominated by Democrats. But McConnell has drawn criticism from fellow Republicans wanting to succeed him as they jockey for support from Trump and his supporters. Morris' attacks on McConnell were by far the most caustic, blasting the senator earlier this year for opposing a handful of Trump's nominations. All three leading GOP contenders, however, have ties to the venerable Kentuckian. Cameron is a former McConnell aide and the senator helped launch Cameron's political career. Barr has referred to the senator as a mentor and Morris worked as an intern in McConnell's office. The state's two Democrats holding statewide office — Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman — have both said they will not enter the Senate race. Beshear is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, while Coleman is viewed by many as a looming candidate for governor in 2027. A top legislative Democrat, state House Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, is seeking the Senate seat. Kentucky hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992.
Winnipeg Free Press
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kentucky Senate hopeful Nate Morris pledges his loyalty to President Trump
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican businessman Nate Morris entered Kentucky's competitive campaign Thursday to succeed longtime Senate power broker Mitch McConnell, branding himself as a political outsider and loyal supporter of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement. Morris joins U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and ex-state Attorney General Daniel Cameron as GOP heavyweights vying for their party's nomination next spring in the Republican-leaning Bluegrass State. He said his campaign would become a referendum on McConnell's Senate record, and he tried to link his two Republican rivals to the longtime senator, though Morris has his own past ties to McConnell. 'You have two McConnellites who owe everything to Mitch McConnell versus the outside business guy that's running as the MAGA candidate,' Morris said in a campaign release. 'I think that contrast is gonna be very, very striking to Kentuckians all over the state because they've had enough of Mitch.' Morris joins the Senate race with far less name recognition than his main rivals but has his own advantage — he can tap into personal wealth he accumulated as a tech entrepreneur to unleash an advertising blitz to make himself more of a household name in the coming months. He staked out a hard line on immigration in announcing his candidacy. He said he supports a moratorium on immigration into the United States until every immigrant currently in the country illegally is deported. The GOP contenders are following the same playbook — lavishing praise on Trump in hopes of landing the president's prized endorsement — seen as potentially decisive in determining who wins the primary. Morris hopes to connect with Kentuckians by touting his family's blue-collar roots, plus his staunch support for Trump in a state where Trump dominated the past three presidential elections. Morris — a ninth-generation Kentuckian with family ties to Appalachia — was raised in a union household by a single mother and attended public schools, his campaign bio said. Many of his relatives worked at an auto plant, including his grandfather, who headed the local auto union, it said. 'I have been able to live the American dream because of how great this country is,' Morris said. Morris founded Rubicon, one of the country's largest waste and recycling companies. Starting with a $10,000 line of credit, Morris served as CEO for more than 12 years, growing the company to nearly $700 million in annual revenue while creating hundreds of jobs, the bio said. The company later ran into financial difficulties, which could provide fodder for Morris' rivals. Barr's campaign immediately went on the attack, questioning Morris' authenticity by pointing to a campaign donation it says Morris gave to Nikki Haley, a Trump campaign rival in 2024. And Barr's team claimed Morris championed diversity initiatives as a businessman, contrary to Trump's policies. 'Nate Morris is pretending to be MAGA now, but he can't run from all the liberal trash in his past,' Barr's campaign said Thursday in a statement. 'Kentucky conservatives won't fall for this fraud.' The wide-open race was set in motion when McConnell — the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history — announced in February, on his 83rd birthday, that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2026 and will retire when his current term ends. His departure will end an era in Bluegrass State politics. Through the decades, McConnell ensured that his home state received plenty of federal funding. Back home, he was a key architect in his party's rise to power in a state once dominated by Democrats. But McConnell has drawn criticism from fellow Republicans wanting to succeed him as they jockey for support from Trump and his supporters. Morris' attacks on McConnell were by far the most caustic, blasting the senator earlier this year for opposing a handful of Trump's nominations. All three leading GOP contenders, however, have ties to the venerable Kentuckian. Cameron is a former McConnell aide and the senator helped launch Cameron's political career. Barr has referred to the senator as a mentor and Morris worked as an intern in McConnell's office. The state's two Democrats holding statewide office — Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman — have both said they will not enter the Senate race. Beshear is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, while Coleman is viewed by many as a looming candidate for governor in 2027. A top legislative Democrat, state House Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, is seeking the Senate seat. Kentucky hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992. ___
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nate Morris announces run for Sen. Mitch McConnell's seat
A Kentucky businessman is throwing his name into the Republican field of candidates to replace Sen. Mitch McConnell, who is retiring at the end of his current term. Nate Morris, chairman and chief executive officer of Morris Industries, announced June 26 on Donald Trump Jr.'s podcast show, "Triggered with Don Jr.," he will make a bid for the U.S. Senate. "I think it's time to take out the trash in Washington, D.C., and bring someone new, somebody from the outside, somebody that's not a career politician and most importantly, someone that's only beholden to the people, not to McConnell cronies and the people that have been occupying this seat through McConnell over the last 40 years," Morris said. Morris, who has never served in public office but has been involved in Kentucky politics, runs a privately held conglomerate in Lexington. According to its website, the company "reimagines the industrial economy while leveraging the power of business to solve some of America's biggest challenges, including the environment and national security." Morris has also worked with Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, with POLITICO calling Morris "a door-opener for Paul with big-money GOP donors." He touted his background as a ninth-generation Kentuckian, saying he and his family have been "fighting and scrapping for everything we have." "Like most Kentuckians, 19 of my family members worked at an auto plant, and I've been able to live the American dream because of how great this country is," Morris said. Morris has taken jabs at McConnell in the past, including in a recent social media post where he criticized the senator for voting against the confirmation of Pete Hegseth as U.S. secretary of defense. He was critical of McConnell during his campaign announcement, saying that McConnell's legacy will be known in Kentucky and around the country as someone who was "sabotaging Trump's agenda." "I look at Mitch McConnell as the final boss for (Trump) to defeat, and I think he's going to do it right here in Kentucky and elect an America First candidate to carry on his legacy in the Bluegrass state," Morris said. Morris joins current U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron who have previously announced they will run in the GOP primary election for McConnell's seat. McConnell had announced in February that he will not seek reelection in 2026. He joined the U.S. Senate in 1984 and served as the GOP's leader in the chamber from 2007-24 before giving up the position to Sen. John Thune of South Dakota. His time as Senate leader is the longest by a member of any party in history. Cameron wasted no time and shared he would be running minutes after McConnell said he wouldn't seek reelection. Barr, who has represented Kentucky's Sixth Congressional District since 2013, announced he would also run for the Senate seat. On the Democratic side, state Rep. Pamela Stevenson launched her campaign in April. She has represented House District 43 in Frankfort since 2021 and has a background as a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. The primaries are set to take place on May 19, 2026, before the general election later that year on Nov. 3. Reach reporter Hannah Pinski at hpinski@ or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @hannahpinski. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Nate Morris announces bid for Mitch McConnell's Senate seat
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kentucky Senate hopeful Nate Morris pledges his loyalty to President Trump
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Republican businessman Nate Morris entered Kentucky's competitive campaign Thursday to succeed longtime Senate power broker Mitch McConnell, branding himself as a political outsider and loyal supporter of President Donald Trump's MAGA movement. Morris joins U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and ex-state Attorney General Daniel Cameron as GOP heavyweights vying for their party's nomination next spring in the Republican-leaning Bluegrass State. He said his campaign would become a referendum on McConnell's Senate record, and he tried to link his two Republican rivals to the longtime senator, though Morris has his own past ties to McConnell. 'You have two McConnellites who owe everything to Mitch McConnell versus the outside business guy that's running as the MAGA candidate,' Morris said in a campaign release. 'I think that contrast is gonna be very, very striking to Kentuckians all over the state because they've had enough of Mitch.' Morris joins the Senate race with far less name recognition than his main rivals but has his own advantage — he can tap into personal wealth he accumulated as a tech entrepreneur to unleash an advertising blitz to make himself more of a household name in the coming months. He staked out a hard line on immigration in announcing his candidacy. He said he supports a moratorium on immigration into the United States until every immigrant currently in the country illegally is deported. The GOP contenders are following the same playbook — lavishing praise on Trump in hopes of landing the president's prized endorsement — seen as potentially decisive in determining who wins the primary. Morris hopes to connect with Kentuckians by touting his family's blue-collar roots, plus his staunch support for Trump in a state where Trump dominated the past three presidential elections. Morris — a ninth-generation Kentuckian with family ties to Appalachia — was raised in a union household by a single mother and attended public schools, his campaign bio said. Many of his relatives worked at an auto plant, including his grandfather, who headed the local auto union, it said. 'I have been able to live the American dream because of how great this country is,' Morris said. Morris founded Rubicon, one of the country's largest waste and recycling companies. Starting with a $10,000 line of credit, Morris served as CEO for more than 12 years, growing the company to nearly $700 million in annual revenue while creating hundreds of jobs, the bio said. The company later ran into financial difficulties, which could provide fodder for Morris' rivals. Barr's campaign immediately went on the attack, questioning Morris' authenticity by pointing to a campaign donation it says Morris gave to Nikki Haley, a Trump campaign rival in 2024. And Barr's team claimed Morris championed diversity initiatives as a businessman, contrary to Trump's policies. 'Nate Morris is pretending to be MAGA now, but he can't run from all the liberal trash in his past,' Barr's campaign said Thursday in a statement. 'Kentucky conservatives won't fall for this fraud.' The wide-open race was set in motion when McConnell — the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history — announced in February, on his 83rd birthday, that he wouldn't seek reelection in 2026 and will retire when his current term ends. His departure will end an era in Bluegrass State politics. Through the decades, McConnell ensured that his home state received plenty of federal funding. Back home, he was a key architect in his party's rise to power in a state once dominated by Democrats. But McConnell has drawn criticism from fellow Republicans wanting to succeed him as they jockey for support from Trump and his supporters. Morris' attacks on McConnell were by far the most caustic, blasting the senator earlier this year for opposing a handful of Trump's nominations. All three leading GOP contenders, however, have ties to the venerable Kentuckian. Cameron is a former McConnell aide and the senator helped launch Cameron's political career. Barr has referred to the senator as a mentor and Morris worked as an intern in McConnell's office. The state's two Democrats holding statewide office — Gov. Andy Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman — have both said they will not enter the Senate race. Beshear is seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, while Coleman is viewed by many as a looming candidate for governor in 2027. A top legislative Democrat, state House Minority Floor Leader Pamela Stevenson, is seeking the Senate seat. Kentucky hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since Wendell Ford in 1992. ___
